The emergency room at Adirondack Medical Center Lake Placid will become a 15-hour, first-of-its-kind model in New York, officials announced.

The changes will begin June 16. The New York State Department of Health has approved Adirondack Health's request.

Adirondack Health and a task force composed of Lake Placid-area residents, local elected officials and emergency medical service agencies will work together.

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New hours for the emergency department will be 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. Adirondack Health's emergency department in Saranac Lake will continue to be a 24-hour operation, and the Lake Placid Health Center hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

"Hospitals across the state are increasingly challenged by a rapidly changing health care landscape," state Sen. Betty Little said. "The leadership at Adirondack Health has worked hard with surrounding communities to adjust, exploring multiple options to ensure high-quality care while also ensuring long-term financial viability."

The number of patients served at the Lake Placid emergency room has declined by 22 percent since 2009, and resulted in a loss of nearly $588,192 in 2012 and $896,325 in 2013.

Dr. John D. Broderick, chief medical officer, said the trend of seeing fewer patients presented an opportunity to rethink how care is delivered.

"The opportunity for doctors, nurses and emergency technicians to work together regularly is essential to maintaining a high level of care,” Broderick said. “Integrating staff and services will enhance the focus on the needs of patients and allow us to provide the best care possible."

This shift in care is taking place at Adirondack Health where the data show a 12 percent decline in the number of patients needing hospitalization, but an 18 percent increase in the number of patients receiving primary care since 2009.